Warning about Saucony Vision Shoes - Gear

Mark Derry

15/10/2003 at 17:34

To Whom It May Concern

I recently purchased a pair of Saucony Vision Shoes from the M & M website.

I am a serious runner who typically does 40 to 50 miles and week training and I take part in regular marathon and half marathon races, for a long time now I have worn Asics Kayano shoes without a problem. I decided to try the visions having heard good things about them and having read the technical data on the shoes. The first time I wore the shoes was for a short 10k run, during the run they destroyed my feet and left them badly blistered and very painful, I put this down to breaking the shoes in and decided to give them another try. I wore them again a week or so later once the original blisters had heeled, this time I wore them in a half marathon race in Carlisle. As a result I have been left in agony with terrible blisters and deep tissue bruising which will stop me running for at least 2 weeks according to my Doctor. I am appalled by these shoes and I suggest you think carefully before buying them. the second run whilst wearing these I am a very experienced runner who takes care of his feet and always wears good quality socks etc, I haven't had any problems with my feet in the past.

I wrote to Saucony to complain and they sent a very weak reply saying the shoes were selling well!

You have been warned!!!

ed_m (a.k.a. ultra bunny)

15/10/2003 at 18:47

you're an experienced runner who only runs 10k in a pair of shoes before racing in them ?

cougie

pirate

15/10/2003 at 19:00

I don't see why you would wear them for 10k, not get on well with them, and THEN try them for an entire Half Marathon ??

Seems madness to me.

You can't make a shoe that will work for everyone - and common sense should be used here. If I had a really bad reaction to them, I'd certainly not try them for a longer distance.

Wait til you have healed and then try them on the treadmill at the gym for shorter distances. That might work. 10km is not exactyly a great deal of breaking in is it ?

Higs

15/10/2003 at 19:40

Thanks for this valuable advice. I will definitely think twice about:
a) buying shoes I've not tried on from a maker I don't normally use
b) wearing them in a 1/2M when I know they can do for my feet in 10K

I'll consider myself warned!

Higs

p.s. I used to be a serious runner too but I've lighted up a little since.

cougie

pirate

15/10/2003 at 22:51

Oh and I didn't notice that you bought them mail order. Hmmm !

Plodding Hippo

15/10/2003 at 22:54

i dont understand why you wore them again for the half

i am a saucony fan

Please contact them again

Dragon Breath

16/10/2003 at 08:50

He probably works for Asics.

Plodding Hippo

16/10/2003 at 08:52

dont start me on asics shoes!

Surpried mr saucony hasnt appeared to give advice
he usually does

fat face

16/10/2003 at 08:59

I don't think you try and warn everyone off buying Saucony because of your (and I prepare to be blasted here) foolish decision to wear them in the half marathon.

XFR Bear

16/10/2003 at 09:03

Wearing them for the first time for a 10k isn't exactly the mark of an experienced runner either!

Plodding Hippo

16/10/2003 at 09:03

I know i can do that with my sauconys
thats why i love em!

Ironman

16/10/2003 at 09:08

Different shoes fit different people. I don't get along with a number of shoes including the majority of Asics but I have no problem with others using them.

I've worn a pair of Saucony for a 230 mile ultra run without any major blisters. I didn't break them in but went and tried them on in a shop before making my purchase. That way you know you are not going to have any major probs with them.

ed_m (a.k.a. ultra bunny)

16/10/2003 at 09:21

now you mention it i only wore one pair of shoes during the 24hr last weekend.. guess what make?

i thought i was being a bit unfair with my previous response but it seems everyone else thinks the same way.

don't think we need to have further character assasination on this chap, he probably has had a bad experience. To blame it solely on the shoe and extrapolate that to make them bad for everyone seems a bit much though.

Higs

16/10/2003 at 09:29

Nah, I say kick him while he's down!

(nothing personal Mark, I'm just in that sort of a mood today)

Michael Keeley

16/10/2003 at 09:32

Just to add my two cents worth

I always work on the basis of "if it's not broke, don't try to fix it".

If I had a make and model of shoe which I used and caused me no problems, I would not even think of trying something new unless the shoes became end of life and not available any more.

My feet are too precious and good running shoes are too expensive, especially as I need to buy two pairs of running shoes each time due to left foot being two sizes smaller than right.

MK

Dragon Breath

16/10/2003 at 10:07

Warning: Travelling on a train with your head out of the window is dangerous.

The other week I travelled 10 k on the train with my head sticking out of the window. When I got to my destination I was shocked to find that my head was missing. I had it sewn back on and after the scars had healed I decided to give it another go. Anyway, I decided to do a 13 mile train ride this time and my head got knocked off three times. Now my doctor has told me that I won't be able to travel on trains in my usual fashion for at least a month. Maybe I should stick to just sitting on the train like I did before I received mail suggesting the new method.

Test

16/10/2003 at 10:23

DB - I hate the use of 'LOL' to express appreciation of humour, but, what the hell. LOL.

Ironman's clearly right. They're just not right for YOU, Mark. Hope you're not feeling too beaten up - we're usually very nice, friendly types here!

fat face

16/10/2003 at 10:52

I agree, we're usually very friendly. What's got into us. We've been very rude.

Dragon Breath

16/10/2003 at 11:02

(DB shows contrition)

(Whilst stifling a smirk)

Aspiration Kat

16/10/2003 at 12:14

DB, thanks for the warning about sticking head out of the window. But if I was you I'd write a letter of complaint to national rail, maybe they could change the trains just for you.

Back to the point, I've had no problem with Saucony, having run for the past 18 months in Grid Nitrous without any complaints (I've run 2 full marathons, 4 halfs, a few smaller races and, of course, training runs). Obviously I haven't run in the same pair, I buy a new pair after about 500 miles use. But, I buy the make and model. If I bought a different model, ran a 10K in them and both my feet fell off, I would reallise that they are not the shoes for me, I wouldn't then try them in a race!

I agree with what already has been said, shoes that are OK for one person may not be OK for someone else. They only solution to getting the perfect shoe is to have them custom made so you get the correct size, width and fitting.

One more thing, I would never buy a new model of shoe I've never tried before via mail order or the web. I'd go to a specialist running shop like Run and Become, where you can try them on and they will even let you run up and down the street in them. Then you can tell if they feel uncomfortable or tight fitting.

Considering you are supposed to be an "experienced runner" you should've known better than to use the shoes in a 1/2 marathon after they had already almost destroyed your feet in a 10K run. I don't think Saucony is too blame.